Addition of triglyceride to serum for use in quality control and reference

We describe a simple method in which a water-soluble mixture of triocatanoin and a surfactant, "Triton X-114," are used in preparing solutions of triglycerides (triacylglycerols) in either human serum, solutions of albumin, or water. Analytical recovery added triglyceride was quantitative by two methods. The addition did not affect results of analyses for 18 other commonly measured constitutents of serum. When the triglyceride was added to either lipid-depleted human serum or bovine serum albumin solution and lyophilized, subsequent solutions were clear. The triglyceride/protein preparation was stable in lyophilized form for a year and in reconstituted serum for five days at 5 degrees C. Aquenous solutions appear to be stable indefinitely at room temperature.